A
major milestone was passed in the week. The official hydraulic boiler test was
undertaken in the presence of the society's boiler inspector John Glaze. It
passed with flying colours. Next will be the live steam test.

6024's
newly passed boiler is on the left. To the immediate right is the boiler
from 5043 Earl of Mount Edgecombe and to the right of this is 6990 Witherslack
Hall's boiler. The narrow gauge boiler in the foreground is from Darjeeling
Himalayan Railway B Class 0-4-0 ST+WT No.778. March 27 2004

Last
Sunday the tender frames were given a top coat in black whilst the tender buffer
beam was also given a coat of paint. During the day this was given a second
coat.

Back
in red - this is the tender buffer beam before getting a second coat of
paint. Also note the newly painted air brake taps and parts of the steam
heat system. March 27 2004

Having
also been painted once last week the ashpan was given a second coat of micasious
paint.

The
ashpan ready for the next coat of paint. March 27 2004

Most
work happened up around the workshops. The running plates were given another
coat of paint whilst outside the shed the boiler, now drained after the successful
hydraulic test, was prepared for the steam test.

Steve
Underhill heats up a nut before removing it to allow the stud to be examined
and the thread cleaned. This stud is one of several holding the grate
supports in place. Once these studs have been serviced and the ashpan
mounts checked the grate can be re-fitted. March 27 2004

Time
for a cuppa ! From the left - Richard Corser, Keith Clarke, Henry Coates,
Hugh Button, Leon Salter, John Salter and Keith Lines. March 27 2004

One
of the main tasks for the day was cleaning up the paint work on the rear driving
wheels making them ready for a re-paint. A lot of this task was completed but
there is still some way to go before they can be painted. The springs for this
wheelset are likely to be delivered in about two weeks time so we have a little
time to get them ready !

Scraping
the old paint from the rear drivers are (from the left) Keith Clarke,
Leon Salter and your webmaster. March 27 2004

One
rear tyre face was wire brushed clean and primed. The axle was similarly treated.

And
two final pieces of good news. The society's water carrier is about three weeks
away from being finished by Rampart in Derby whilst the support coach is almost
finished as well. This is being overhauled by Lancastrian Carriage and Wagon
Works.

March
20 2004

Machining
the rear driving wheels has been completed. Once the springs are back on site
and the wheel set is removed from the wheel lathe we hope to be able to get
the wheels back in the chassis. This will be a major step forward allowing a
lot of components which are already overhauled, such as brake gear,to be put
back on the chassis. Quite a bit of work was undertaken on the chassis but most
of this was preparing, and painting, the running plate. The sections of the
frames around the rear driving wheels are already finished.

Leon
Salter rubs down the front right hand splasher. March 20 2004

Mick
Carr rubs down the front left hand running plate before giving it a coat
of paint. March 20 2004

Work
also continued preparing the internal surfaces of the cab roof and side sheets
for painting.

All
the axleboxes on the chassis were filled with oil and the corks, where necessary,
were replaced.

Since
the last report the inside of the tender has been professionally painted with
a marine paint to protect it from corrosion. Last time around this did a fantastic
job.

A
view into the newly painted tender via the filler hole. Note the sacrificial
anode also there to prevent corrosion. March 20 2004

The
ashpan was also given a coat of special rust proofing paint. A coat of black
micasious paint has now been applied to give it a bit more protection. The damper
doors are also getting the same treatment.

The
undercoated ashpan. March 20 2004

Huw
Button gives the ashpan a coat of micasious paint. March 20 2004

Dave
Fuszard paints the back surface of a boiler band. March 20 2004

The
tender brakes which were being reassembled last time were finished off with
lots of persuasion from heavy implements.

March
13 2004

No
news this week. Several regulars were off doing railway things in Somerset allowing
everyone else to have a weekend off.

March
06 2004

At
last the weather has warmed up a bit making it possible to do things without
freezing to death ! However there was a smaller than normal turnout this weekend.
Despite this good progress was made.

The
tender got quite a bit of attention; mechanically it is nearing completion.
An unused drawhook for the tender has been donated to the society. This was
prepared for fitting. The last of the axleboxes were checked over and found
to be in good condition. The new brake blocks were also fitted.

The
brand new tender drawhook. March 06 2004

Keith
Lines in his natural position - stood about chatting - was apparently
fitting the new cast iron tender brake blocks. March 06 2004

A
shunt in the workshops found the chassis still undercover but in a totally different
position to last week. A couple of unfortunate souls were banished from the
shed to continue preparing the splashers and running plates for their next coat
of paint.

Your
webmaster rubs down the front left hand side splasher. The chassis behind
is 5043 Earl of Mount Edgecombe. March 06 2004

Various
other parts were given a paint during the day such as the boiler bands which
it had proved impossible to paint in the cold last weekend and several parts
of the backhead cladding.

Alex
Hayes (left) and Dave Fuszard worked on painting various pieces during
the day. Here Dave has just finished a piece of backhead cladding. March
06 2004

His
first day back after a few weeks of working abroad finds Huw Button making
stupid poses already ! Here he is working on the gauge frame protector.
Non-GWR enthusiasts note this is the one and only gauge frame protector
- GWR locos only ever had one gauge glass and a set of test cocks. March
06 2004

Perhaps
the biggest milestone of the weekend was the successful preliminary hydraulic
test of the boiler. With only a few minor weeps from various fittings requiring
attention it was smiles all around. It will not be long now until the official
hydraulic test in the presence of our insurance inspector will be carried out.
Once it is the 10 year ticket will be ticking away !

The
hydraulic pressure was pumped up manually, not an easy task. A substantial
amount of the hard work was carried out by Leon Salter (left) and John
Salter. March 06 2004

Gradually
the pressure went up ! It was taken to 350psi. March 06 2004

Steve
Underhill nips up one of the manifold fittings which was weeping a tiny amount
of water. March 06 2004